AP stylebook has no good answer for LGBT couples

The Associated Press stylebook guides most mainstream journalists’ practices, so the announcement of a new, changed or even clarified rule has significant consequences. An AP “memo for internal guidance” providing a problematic suggestion for how to refer to married same-sex couples.

The statement: “We were asked how to report about same-sex couples who call themselves “husband” and “wife.” Our view is that such terms may be used in AP content if those involved have regularly used those terms (“Smith is survived by his husband, John Jones”) or in quotes attributed to them. Generally AP uses couples or partners to describe people in civil unions or same-sex marriages.”

Last November, AP issued a similarly controversial rule eliminating the use of the word “homophobia” along with other social “-phobia” words.